Kobe Bryant Memorial at L.A. Live:
In the wake of Kobe Bryant’s death, fans from near and far turned the Staples center and L.A. Live into a memorial, leaving flowers, posters, shirts, basketballs, and homemade signs to honor him. Lakers guard Quinn Cook even joined the throng of mourners. Fans recalled his 81-point game and his final Lakers game where he scored 60 points. They loved him for his commitment and dedication to basketball, calling him “legend,” “icon,” “A Family Man,” and “a role model.”
Bakewell Brings Foot Locker to Compton:
L.A. Sentinel Publisher Danny Bakewell Sr. opened a Footlocker in the Compton Renaissance Plaza Shopping center. The store is committed to making a difference, the mission is for the store to be a safe haven for youth. The Footlocker is committed to hiring local talent to make products
Compton Mourns the Loss of 14-Year-old Semaj Miller:
Young basketball prospect Semaj Miller was gunned down in South L.A. in late July. Compton Mayor Aja Brown and rapper Percy “Master P” Miller were some of the many people who spoke at his vigil. Miller started playing basketball at the age of five and was a member of the L.A. City Wildcats Youth Academy. A 17-year-old was later charged with the murder of Miller.
Attorney: Dijon Kizzee Fatally Shot by Deputies While Lying on Ground:
At around 3:15 p.m. on Monday, in the proximity of West 109th Place and Budlong Avenue in South LA, LASD deputies saw Dijon Kizzee, 29, and chose to stop him for “riding a bicycle in an unlawful manner.” The encounter became fatal when two sheriff deputies shot Kizzee 15 times, “seven times with his profile of the back pointing toward deputies” according to autopsy report. The killing has sparked two days of protests exceeding the Westmont community, and has become another spotlight in the national controversy about police violence used on Black people.
Single Black Mother of Three Murdered on Father’s Day, Community Responds with Open Arms:
Heinous acts of murder widen the gashes of agony within the Black American community; the wounds never have enough time to heal. A recent homicide of 28-year-old Tajanae Nelson has left three little girls without a mother, as her family, along with the rest of the community, mourns. Tajanae leaves many loved ones behind and there are no words to describe the hurt in their hearts. Tajanae was seen as the sole provider for her three daughters; the youngest being less than a year old. As a single mother, she played both parental roles and worked twice as hard to raise her children, Azyriyah (9), Aaliyah (7), and Anastasia (11-months). She created her own sense of family and loved them with every fiber of her being.
Kanye West Brings Sunday Service to DTLA’s Skid Row:
Kanye West faith was on full display on Dec. 29, as he marked the first anniversary of Sunday Service with a rousing worship experience on skid row in downtown L.A. West, the Union Rescue Mission (URM) and Faithful Central Bible Church (FCBC) collaborated to present the service at URM, which is the site of FCBC’s regular DTLA Sunday worship and its various midweek activities that minister to the homeless. The Rev. Andy Bales, URM CEO, and Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, FCBC pastor, were also on hand. Armed with his band, choir and guest preacher, Pastor Kerwin Lee, West joined with homeless parishioners to lift up the name of Jesus through prayer, music and the Word of God. After roaming through the crowd to shake hands and speak with some of the worshippers, West captivated the audience while rapping about life’s distractions over the choir’s chorus of “Hallelujah” and had people swaying as he delivered “Closed on Sunday” and “Follow God,” both from his “Jesus Is King” album.
Tiffany Haddish Joins Councilmember Herb Wesson to donate computers to Foster Care
|(in photo): L.A. City Councilmember Herb Wesson, Good Plus Foundation Director Dr. Alan-Michael Graves, actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish and political strategist and advisor Jasmyne Cannick. (Courtesy photo)|
Actress and comedian, Tiffany Haddish joined Los Angeles Councilmember Herb Wesson and Sentinel columnist and political strategist, Jasmyne Cannick in handing out over 700 laptops to students in the L.A. County foster system. The computers given away were a donation from Wesson’s OurCycleLA project which is a digital inclusion program designed to bridge the digital divide in low-income households in Los Angeles and other marginalized communities.
Naked and Bleeding: One Woman’s Story of What Happened When the Sheriff’s Came Through Her Front Door:
In July it had almost been a year when deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lancaster station armed with rifles and shotguns kicked in “Jane Doe’s” door without warning, and dragged her outside naked and bleeding from her menstrual cycle. It goes without saying that Jane Doe is a Black woman.
Twenty-four-year-old Jane Doe was home alone with her 5-year-old son and 13-year-old sister. Guns in hand, the deputies ordered a naked Jane Doe — who was upstairs getting out of the shower and had run to the stairs to see what the commotion was — to come downstairs naked. Screaming and asking to see the warrant and be allowed to get dressed, she was forced at gunpoint to come downstairs naked in front of a group of male deputies.
The deputies ignored her pleas not to tie her up and dragged her naked across her front lawn to the patrol car. Crying, Jane Doe recounts one of the deputies smiling and laughing at her naked body in the back of the patrol car.
“I was sitting in the back of the police car bleeding from my menstrual cycle,” she cries. “My aunt pulled up. The only way for me to identify to her that I was back there like that was to smear blood on the window to show her that I am back here undressed on my period.”
To add insult to injury, Jane Doe was arrested and charged with three counts of resisting arrest.
She’s currently represented by the Cochran Firm and has filed a civil rights lawsuit against the County of Los Angeles, citing a violation of her civil rights, battery, negligence, and negligent infliction of emotional distress, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Interestingly enough, since filing her lawsuit, the three counts of resisting arrest have been dropped.
Black Leaders confront Chief Moore, demand changes in the midst of gang database corruption scandal
|(CAPTION) L.A. Sentinel Executive Publisher, Danny J. Bakewell, Sr. and community advocates speak out for change within LAPD. (Photo by E. Mesiyah McGinnis/L.A. Sentinel)|
January 23, Los Angeles Titans in the collective community brought their united attention towards the miscount of vulnerable youth. Under the leadership of Chief Michel Moore, policemen added children from underrepresented communities to a database that notifies law enforcement of any gang relations. However, the selected youth would not have any previous gang-related history. The CalGang shared criminal intelligence system tracks the movement and stores a profile of people who are considered gang members. Civic Powerhouses that were present at the meeting included: Executive Leader of the L.A. Sentinel media outlet, Danny Bakewell, Sr., Khalid Shaw, founder of Stop the Violence, Increase the Peace Foundation, and Yvonne Wheeler, national representative, American Federation of Government Employees. Bakewell spoke directly to the chief, “Unfortunately, Chief, we have these meetings too often,” the executive publisher of the L.A. Sentinel and L.A. Watts Times newspapers continued, “We believe you have the right intent and the right spirit, but there’s not a lot of things changed.”
Police Union Group Places Gun Target on Image of Black Elected Official (A-1) – LOCAL (9/24/20)
As America heals from the several murders of unarmed Black men and women, the California Correctional Peace Officer Association (CCPOA) further stirred things up when the coalition placed a gun target on a photo of a Black politician, Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer in a commercial released on Facebook.
Pastor Shep and Gang Leaders Bring Awareness to the Peace Movement in L.A. Communities
Experience Christian Ministries (ECM) Pastor Shep Crawford brought together Bloods and Crips and other gang leaders to bring awareness about the peace movement that’s been going on in neighborhoods on the East Side of Los Angeles. According to pastor Crawford, when the crime rate goes down in East Los Angeles, the police, pastors, or politicians will get credit. Crawford stated that he got a front-row seat to the majority of the reason that crime and shooting are down is because of the gang leaders that are striving to bring peace within the communities. Gang leaders and Pastor Crawford held the press conference because they are tired of being targeted and arrested when making a change in the community. They want to show unity within the Black and Brown gangs.
Members of St. Paul First Lutheran Church Reprimand a Black Woman for Sitting on their Lawn
Los Angeles based actress and stunt woman Alex Marshall-Brown was harassed by White church members for sitting on the grass of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in North Hollywood. The video captured on Marshall-Brown’s smartphone shows a church member saying “You are not welcome here,” and then making a point to drill a “No Trespassing” sign into a tree next to her for reasonable cause for police assistance. The video went viral when it took a strange turn as the unidentified man finished drilling the sign and saying that “All Lives Matter.”
City of Pasadena Accused on Unfairly Reassigning Pasadena Fire Chief Bertral Washington
Pasadena City Councilmember John Kennedy and Vice Mayor Tyron Hampton called into question the decision of Pasadena City Manager, Stever Mermell for the re-assigning of Pasadena Fire Chief Bertral Washington at an overcrowded city council meeting on Monday, February 10. The Pasadena NAACP rallied to support Chief Bertral Washington who was reassigned last Thursday to perform work on the city’s wireless emergency alert system, but no reason for the reassignment has been made public. Councilman John Kennedy and Vice Mayor Tryon Hampton, the only two African Americans on the seven-person city council, agreed with members of the NAACP and demanded answers for the reassignment and wanted to ensure that Chief Washington was being treated fairly and afforded due process. Washington was hired in 2014 from the Clark County Fire Department in Nevada and has worked aggressively to ensure that the Pasadena Fire Department is reflective of the city’s diversity. Members of the community vowed to continue to fight for the chief who is highly regarded by many in the city and will continue to question the decision until order is restored within the city’s fire department.
Shirley Weber’s CSU Ethnic Studies Bill is Now State Law:
In August, Gov. Newsom signed AB 1460 into law which requires California State University (CSU), the nation’s largest four-year public university system, to provide courses in Ethnic studies at each of its 23 campuses, beginning with the 2021–22 academic year and requires CSU students to take a 3-credit course in Ethnic studies to graduate, beginning in the 2024-2025 academic year.
The bill was introduced in 2019 by Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), professor emeritus of Africana studies at San Diego State, on behalf of the California Faculty Association (CFA) and with support from the legislative ethnic caucuses (Black, Latino, and Asian Pacific Islander).
Ethnic studies is an interdisciplinary study of race and ethnicity that gained acceptance nationally in universities following the 1960’s Black student uprisings. Research shows that students of color and White students benefit academically and socially from taking Ethnic studies courses.
Mayor Garcetti shows Poise and Strength During COVID-19 Crisis:
Los Angeles City Mayor Eric Garcetti navigated the city through the outbreak of COVID-19, since the drastic change in course earlier in March. Garcetti has been “consistent, steadfast, and action-filled” during a time of grave uncertainty. The mayor stressed the main priority during this time is human life. As the pandemic continues to unfold, Mayor Garcetti has led the city with science and data being the main factors of his decisions. The mayor created a platform of transparency with the community, breaking down the risks and solutions to the problems that has transpired since the pandemic has taken over the city.
How Mayor James Butts turned Inglewood Into California’s Premier Sports and Entertainment City:
Even in these challenging times, Inglewood’s transformation from a South Bay city that once made headlines for its economic and crime struggles has morphed into an economic powerhouse and development oasis that has attracted three professional sports teams – the Rams, the Clippers and the Chargers. It has become the home to the headquarters of the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles as well as the L.A. Philharmonic’s Youth Orchestra program and its Frank Gehry-designed headquarters. Inglewood stands out as Southern California’s most remarkable story of transformation and triumph.
Gov. Gavin Newsom leads California through COVID-19 pandemic:
Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health released guidance directing counties that have been on the County Monitoring List for three consecutive days or more to close indoor operations for certain sectors which promote the mixing of populations beyond households and make adherence to physical distancing and wearing face coverings difficult. The guidance applies for a minimum of three weeks and is subject to an extension based on epidemiologic indicators. These sectors may modify operations to provide services outside or by pick-up. In addition, all brewpubs, breweries, bars, and pubs in these counties must close immediately, both indoor and outdoor. California will continue to update and issue guidance based on the best available public health data and the best practices currently employed. All industry or sector guidance documents that have been issued to date, including all infectious control measures outlined in those guidance documents, apply in outdoor settings, and thus must be adhered to.
Thousands Show up for George Floyd and Justice in Los Angeles:
More than 30 protests, march and vigils were held throughout the Southland, from Venice to Huntington Beach, and Beverley Hills to Fullerton, in remembrance of Floyd. Thousands of people participating in a symbolic funeral procession for Floyd and local victims.
June 7th, 2020 held the largest protest event to date jammed Hollywood Blvd between 50,000 and 100,000 people.
15th Annual Taste of Soul goes Virtual and delivers with Community Food Drive:
On Saturday, October 17, The Taste of Soul Online and On-time Virtual Concert saw the 15th Annual Taste of Soul festival go virtual to keep everyone safely at home watching online and provided entertainment and positive community messaging to everyone during these challenging times. The virtual show featured musical performances by artists After 7, Anthony Hamilton, Deborah Joy Winans, Doug E. Fresh, En Vogue, Fred Hammond, Jade Novah, Kool Moe Dee, MAJOR., Tamela Mann and Montell Jordan. The virtual event will also had appearances by Darrin Dewitt Henson, Roland Martin, Lamman Rucker, Loni Love, Kim Fields, Dr. Bobby Jones, Faithe C. Herman, Wendy Raquel Robinson and Debbie Allen. Comedian and actress, Kym Whitley hosted the virtual event with D.J. Mal-Ski hosting the final part of the show: Virtual Taste of Soul House Party. Also, the same day, the Taste of Soul Community Food Distribution took place in the block of the Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper on Crenshaw Blvd. from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The food distribution came at a critical time as the economy has been severely hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The food distribution helped local families and supported Black businesses struggling to stay in business during the pandemic. Pre-packaged meals were also purchased from Dulans on Crenshaw, Harold & Belles, Mels Fish Shack and The District by GS. These businesses are a part of the Sentinel’s Support Black Business Campaign which is an ongoing program designed to provide extra business support to our local businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The drive-thru event saw an endless line of cars come through to receive food and produce delivered by masked volunteers observing social distancing. The L.A. Regional Food Bank provided groceries and pre-packaged meals that were cooked off-site for distribution following strict COVID-19 health restrictions approved by L.A. County Public Health.
Community Organizations Are the Other First Responders During COVID-19:
Despite COVID-19 and throughout the “Shelter in Place” mandate, community-based organizations like Brotherhood Crusade, YWCA of Greater Los Angeles, the Jenesse Center for battered women, and other non-profits remained open, operating and serving a community that was already in desperate need of resources. The Brotherhood stated it has an obligation to remain open and provide services to the community, this would not be possible without the support of so many of their corporate partners who have stepped up during these most critical of times. Beyond basic needs, like food and shelter; the YWCA stated these times are tough on many residents within the community mentally as well. The YWCA provides counseling services and said that during these stressful times, their 24-hour rape and domestic abuse hotline is a critical part of providing services within the community.
Councilmember Curren Price Announces Plans to Rename Portions of Figueroa Street to ‘Kobe Bryant Boulevard:’
Councilmember Curren Price on Aug. 25 introduced a motion to rename a stretch of Figueroa Street from Olympic Boulevard to Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in honor of the basketball great Kobe Bryant. Councilman Price announced the motion on Kobe Bryant Day, August 24, alongside motion co-author Councilmember Herb Wesson, and KDAY radio personality Cece Valencia, as well as Lakers fans outside of the Staples Center.
LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER, HALEIGH NICKERSON SUES DIESEL AND TERRY RICHARDSON FOR STEALING HER WORK |(CAPTION FOR IMAGE) Haleigh Nickerson’s image (left) compared to Terry Richardson’s for a Diesel campaign.| Haleigh Nickerson, an African American women, photographer and digital artist based in Los Angeles, filed a lawsuit against controversial photographer Terry Richardson. Nickerson’s “Sista Soulja” photo, which she created in 2016. The lawsuit filed in federal court alleges copyright infringement. Nickerson claims Diesel included a photo similar to hers in a new campaign “Rules for Successful Living. She called it a “blatant act of infringement. Richardson lost his prestige since the emergence of the #MeToo movement in 2017. Nickerson did not want her reputation to be affiliated with disgraced photographers, such as Richardson. Nickerson reached out to Diesel before filing her lawsuit, and argued that the brand intentionally copied the most recognizable elements of her ‘Sista Soulja’ photograph. She is seeking that all reproductions be destroyed and all profits derived from the image be handed to her. For this case to land in court, damages need to exceed 75,000.
L.A. County Votes to Settle Ryan Twyman DIS Shooting for $3.9 Million: 24-year-old Ryan Tyman was shot by L.A. County sheriff’s deputies, who said he used his car as a weapon against them June 6, in Compton. On November 12 the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a 3.9 million settlement of a federal lawsuit brought by the family of Ryan Twyman. Former Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas made a statement. He said, “This is a sobering reminder of the families and community’s need for justice, healing and compassion. Although a $3.9 million settlement is unusually large, it is no substitute for justice.” He continued, “Justice indeed requires an investigation with legally mandated oversight by the Office of Inspector General to ensure that careless tragedies like this one are repeated.” According to the plaintiffs’ court papers, the deputies violently confronted Twyman even though he and Leffall were unarmed and not a threat to them.
Two Sheriff’s Deputies shot in Compton September 15, The County of Los Angeles updated the community with critical news surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak. The county remained in a state of caution, as numbers reflected that the flattening of curve. In the same breath, Los Angeles experienced turbulence between local residents and law enforcement. Chairwoman Barger disclosed that two Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies were ambushed and shot, Supervisor Mark-Ridley Thomas and Barger offered $100,000 reward for any information that led to the capture of those who committed the violent crime.
Compton Mayor Aja Brown and City Council Call on the State for Investigation on Compton Sheriff’s Deputies: On August 4th, 2020, Compton Mayor Aja Brown called on state Attorney General Xavier Becerra and the U.S. Justice Department to investigate the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. They were accused of misconduct, excessive force, discriminatory policing and improper stops, searches or arrests. Mayor Brown’s announcement followed allegations of a violent gang of sheriff’s deputies who called themselves “The executioners” and control the Compton station through threats to those that speak out.
Blunt Trauma: Cop Beats Black Teen Over Cigar, Sparking Outrage and Familiar Swisher Sweet Debate: The shocking video of a Rancho Cordova police officer beating an unarmed 14-year-old African American boy over a questionable cigar purchase went viral across social media platforms around the world. Rancho Cordova deputy, Brian Fowell is captured on video pummeling the teenager in his chest and pressing his face in the ground. The incident happened near a 7-Eleven convenient store where the Rancho Cordova Police Department (RCPD) reports that the youth received the tobacco cigarette from an adult.
L.A. County Board Funds Body-Worn Cameras for Sheriff’s Deputies: The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to transfer $25.5million to the Sheriff’s Department to fund the roll out of body-worn cameras to patrol deputies over the next year. Supervisors Janice Hahn and Kathryn Barger co-authored the motion calling for a transfer of funds to cover the first year of operation.
Dodger Stadium looks to be the Largest Testing Site in America |Photo Copy: Mayor Garcetti at Dodger Stadium Testing Center. Photo Courtesy of the city mayor’s office.| On Tuesday, May 26, Los Angeles City Mayor Eric Garcetti delivered news surrounding the biggest testing site in America was developed at the Dodger Stadium. The site is equipped to test up to 6,000 people a day. Mayor Garcetti presented the news from the baseball diamond arena, L.A. County implemented major efforts into opening the city safely. Public officials felt the severity of the current state of the economy, and they worked on the blueprints of conducting business with social distancing.
Aja Brown Compton Pledge: The Compton Pledge, led by Mayor Aja Brown in partnership with the Jain Family Institute, an applied research group with a focus on guaranteed income, and the Fund for Guaranteed Income, a registered public charity launched to steward guaranteed income as a path to racial justice. The Compton Pledge is supported by a Community Advisory Council of trusted leaders and activists to co-design the mission-driven program. Among the groups represented are: Brotherhood Crusade, CHIRLA, One Fair Wage, My Brother’s Keeper, Shields for Families, Neighborhood Housing Services, Color Compton, Sylvia Nunn Angels, Vecinos Unidos Por Compton, Compton YouthBuild, Compton College, Compton Advocates, and Originals Nation. The program will be rigorously evaluated by an independent research team. Participant names will be kept anonymous, but preliminary findings will be reported at six-month intervals and a live data dashboard will be shared once disbursements begin. The Compton Pledge builds on the results of previous pilots to study many of the key unanswered questions about the policy: the optimal implementation and design, as well as ideas towards long-term financing at the municipal level.
County Proclaims ‘Rev James M. Lawson Jr. Day:’ On a motion by Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to proclaim September 22 as “Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr. Day.” September 22, 2020 will mark the 92nd Birthday of a statesman who, since the 1950s, continues to be actively involved in training countless men and women on nonviolent resistance to achieve social justice. He has taught at the University of California, Los Angeles, California State University, Northridge, and countless other educational institutions–and even in retirement continues to travel across the country to teach nonviolence. His commitment to social justice is long-lasting, unwavering, and timeless. His experiences and his words have been used by generations as the foundation and framework in the fight for equality and social justice.
Death of Anthony McClain by Police Expedites City Council Decision to Create Civilian Oversight Commission: On Raymond Avenue and Grandview Street, Anthony McClain was sitting passenger to his brother in a car that was stopped for a missing front license plate. There was small conversation that led to the officers ordering the gentlemen out of the car. McClain in panic held his waistband and had his back turned away from the officer, he began running. The officer took impulsive action and shot McClain in the upper torso while in chase. The victim of the shooting was still handcuffed after he fell wounded. The body cam attached to the officer that pursued and shot McClain was inactive and was not turned on until later. Cuffed, emergency first responders began to administer aid and transferred McClain to a hospital where he later passed away due to his shot wound. Ideally the oversight committee would consist of 9-13 members nominated by city council. Each member would be required to have gone through 30 hours of training and complete a ride-along with the Pasadena Police Department after 90 days of taking up their role. The commission will also include an auditor that will sit as advisor; with the power of subpoena and clearance to review controversial cases.
